Luna Park

For the 3Q this year, we were given a rather unique company-wide objective: to have fun. Every team was given a small budget to spend as they wished, as long as they had fun doing it. My team decided to use this money to ferry across the harbor and go to Luna Park, a heritage-listed amusement park that originally opened in 1935. It has been restored and kept in immaculate condition, and is a fantastic departure from the present into a bygone era. Ok, so there are some anachronicities, but for the most part, it was a great experience. Reminded me a lot of Pleasure Island from Pinocchio.

Isa, Angelina, and Anna on the ferry ride over.

The ladies again, this time with Sara and

Ashleigh added in for good measure.

Ashleigh, Will, and Rick, rounding out most

of the team.

And of course, yours truly, with a rather

spectacular day in the background.

The entrance gate is terrifying - I'd imagine

less than half of potential parkgoers make

it through.

We decided to start our visit off with a ride

on the ferris wheel. For whatever reason, I

find them (initially) to be much more terrifying

than you'd expect. Especially the one at

California Adventure in LA.

From the top of the rotation, you could see the

entire midway.

Ashleigh, initially enthusiastic, remembered she

was scared of heights only after we had reached

the top.

I don't know what this ride is, but I was really

wishing it hadn't been closed.

I love funhouse mirrors!

We decided to go on the carousel next -

Anna poses on her horse. I was on a chicken.

Named 'im Fluffy II.

Ashleigh and Angelina enjoying themselves on

the carousel. Angelina wanted me to make note

that her horse also had a tiger on its chest.

Stylin'.

Scandal.

I don't care if it's called fairy floss over here. I'm

calling it cotton candy. Also, delicious. I had one

bag and one stick of it.

Angelina's day would not be complete until

she got her princess tiara.

We also did bumper cars, which, over here, are

called dodge 'ems. Regardless of what it's called,

it combines two of my favorite things: driving

and competitiveness.

Maybe it's just me, but the portrayal of the guy

in the green car seems slightly racist.

Ashleigh - slightly confused where to sit, since

she was unsure if the wheel was meant to be

on the left or the right. It was in the middle.

This was spectacular - sometimes it's the

simplest things in life that are the best.

Joe, our new boss, and Angelina. We sat and

soaked up the sun for a little while. What a

great way to spend a Friday afternoon.

They had giant slides. Freaking awesome.

The round thing in the back right corner was a

giant spinning platform. Everyone sat in the

middle and tried to be the last one on. I won.

I told you I was competitive. I also may or may

not have bent the rules a little.

House of mirrors. It was amusing listening to

the thud of people walking into walls. What was

not amusing was that it was me.

Warning: ride may appear more terrifying

than it actually is.

This ride was so spectacular we went on it twice.

It spins around and then becomes vertical. You

are in a cage. With nothing holding you down

except centrifugal force. Didn't always work.

Against my better judgement, the last ride we went on was one of those pirate ship rides that goes back and forth, and eventually upside down. Ok, fair enough. Anna and I got on and there was a small kid in the row behind us. He seemed calm enough. The second the ride started, he began screaming. No, screaming is not an appropriate word. He began screeching like a Nazgûl. I spent most of the ride turned around trying to talk him down. He eventually went quiet. Or into shock. I'm not sure which. Either way, I felt ridiculously ill afterward.

All in all, aside from the woozy ending, it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. I'm just thankful I didn't end up spewing pink all over the place.